- Free ecommerce platforms compared
- Ten free ecommerce platforms to consider
- Delivery promises still have rules
- Hosted store or open source?
- Launching your first products
- Questions to ask before you choose a free store
- Signs you've outgrown your free store
- My plain advice on choosing a free ecommerce platform
- Frequently asked questions
The best free ecommerce platforms let you open an online shop without a monthly bill to start, either as a free hosted store or as open source software you install yourself. Hosted stores are quicker to launch, while open source platforms give you more control. Ten options follow in no particular order.
Opening an online shop is far easier than it used to be. A maker can list a first product over a weekend, and a cafe can add online orders to the card reader it already uses.
The ten platforms below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the platform's own website, read this week. Before you build, my guide to profitable ecommerce niches may help you choose what to sell.
Free ecommerce platforms compared
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site names a free plan, a free version, a free account, a free allowance or open source software. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start for free.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Cartel | Online store builder for artists and small businesses | Artists selling a small range | Yes |
| Ecwid | Shopping cart and online store | Adding a store to an existing site | Not stated |
| Magento Open Source | Open source ecommerce from Adobe Commerce | Larger catalogues with developer help | Yes |
| Medusa | Open source commerce platform | Custom stores built by developers | Yes |
| OpenCart | Open source shopping cart | Self-hosted shops with extensions | Yes |
| PrestaShop | Open source ecommerce software | European shops with local features | Yes |
| Sellfy | Online store builder for creators | Selling digital products and merch | Yes |
| Square Online | Free online store builder from Square | Shops already using Square in person | Yes |
| Wix eCommerce | Online store website builder | Design-led stores with no code | Not stated |
| WooCommerce | Open source commerce platform for WordPress | Stores on WordPress sites | Yes |
Ten free ecommerce platforms to consider
Big Cartel
Best for: Illustrators, makers and bands with a small product range who want a simple free store to start.
Ecwid
Best for: Businesses with a website already that want to add a shopping cart to it, or sell on social channels too.
Magento Open Source
Best for: Retailers with a developer or agency who want a powerful open source platform for big catalogues.
Medusa
Best for: Developers who want an open source commerce engine they can shape around an unusual business model.
OpenCart
Best for: Small retailers with some technical help who want a free, self-hosted cart with lots of extensions.
PrestaShop
Best for: European retailers who want free, downloadable shop software they install, host and control themselves, with a large community behind it.
Sellfy
Best for: Creators who want a free store for digital downloads, subscriptions and print-on-demand merch, without building a full website first.
Square Online
Best for: Cafes and shops already taking card payments with Square who want a free online store connected to it.
Wix eCommerce
Best for: Small brands that want a good-looking store built with drag and drop, upgrading when they're ready to sell.
WooCommerce
Best for: WordPress site owners who want to turn their existing site into a shop with a free, open source plugin.
Delivery promises still have rules
A free store doesn't change your obligations to customers. The Federal Trade Commission's guide to the Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule says that when you advertise merchandise, you must have a reasonable basis for stating that you can ship within a certain time.
If you make no shipping statement at all, the FTC says you must have a reasonable basis for believing you can ship within 30 days. UK and EU sellers have their own distance selling rules, so promise only the delivery times you can keep.
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Hosted store or open source?
Hosted stores look after the servers, security and updates for you. You sign up, add products and start selling, and you live within the platform's limits on design and features.
Open source platforms are free to download, but you'll need hosting, a domain, security updates and usually some technical help. They suit businesses that want full control or have an unusual way of selling.
Launching your first products
Start with your five best products, not your whole range. Good photos, clear descriptions and honest delivery times will sell more than a big, half-finished catalogue.
Test the whole journey yourself before you tell anyone: add to basket, pay, receive the confirmation email and check the order arrives in your dashboard. Then ask a friend to do the same on their phone.
Questions to ask before you choose a free store
- Is it a free plan, a free trial or free software I host myself?
- How many products can I list for free?
- Which payment methods can my customers use?
- Can I use my own domain name?
- Does it handle shipping and tax settings for my country?
- Can I move my products and customers if I leave?
Signs you've outgrown your free store
- You hit the product limit. Time to upgrade or move.
- Checkout feels clunky. Customers notice.
- You need more payment options. Check what's supported.
- Orders take hours to process. Look for automation.
Do you make an ecommerce platform? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a free ecommerce platform
If you're not technical, start with a hosted store and get selling. You'll learn more from your first ten orders than from weeks of comparing platforms, and you can always move later.
If you already run a website, adding a store to it's often simpler than starting again. Either way, my guide to marketing an online shop on Etsy has ideas for getting those first customers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free ecommerce platform?
It depends on whether you want a hosted store or software you install. The list above is in no particular order.
Can I really open an online store for free?
Several platforms say you can build a free store or use free open source software. The free plan column shows what each site says.
What's the difference between hosted and open source?
Hosted stores run everything for you. Open source software is free to download but needs your own hosting and updates.
Do delivery rules apply to small stores?
Yes. The FTC says you need a reasonable basis for any shipping time you state, or for shipping within 30 days.
Can I sell digital products on a free store?
Some platforms focus on digital downloads, as their descriptions show.
Can I move to another platform later?
Usually, by exporting products and customers. Check export options before you start.
